Plating machiery



Dec. 23, 1941. J. A. CLAFFY PLATING MACHINERY Filed March 27-, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 h $5 22? 059p a? I ATTORNEY PLATING MACHINERY Filed March 27, 1940 r 4 Sheefs-Shet 2 INVENTOR.

- 056,0/2 a daffy, BY %M ATT RNEY.

Dec. 23, 1941.

J. A. CLAFFY PLATING MACHINERY Filed March 2'7, 1940 v4 Sheets-Sheet 4- INVENTOR.

Joseph a C (y, BY 2* AT'roRNEifl Patented Dec; 23, 1941 UNITED STAT ES PAT T ()FFI'CE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to plating equipment andparticularly to a novel means adapted for use in treatment of the plated articles subsequent to. plating.

In the plating of small articles it is customary to carry on the operations in bulk within a barrel or cylinder and the operations subsequent to that of plating must be performed in separate tanks, the material being treated in bulk. If the transference from one tank to another is done manually, it is rather laborious and slow and the invention here disclosed has to do with the construction of automatic means whereby the successive operations are carried on Without the attention from a workman. This insures, in addition to the saving of labor, a correct timing, for the successive treatments. To that end 1' provide a series of tanks within which a movable container in the form ofa hopper is mounted, the hopper being so arranged that by the operation of a motor it may be lifted from the tank and tilted to discharge its contents into the next successive tank.

Apparatus of two difierent forms adapted for operation in the described manner is illustrated in the accompanying drawings; in which,

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a series of three tanks adapted for co-action through a suitable timing switch;

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing one of the hoppers in tilted or discharge position;

Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the hoppers shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the units;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the timing switch;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the timing cams;

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram; and,

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing a different form of hopper operating means.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 I provide in this instance three conventional treatment tanks 10, H, l2, the first being intended to contain water for washing, the second to contain an acid solution and the third to contain Water. If desired, other tanks may be added.

Since each of the three units is a duplicate of the other, a description will be given of but one thereof. Mounted within the tank on a shaft I3 carried in brackets M, at its ends is a hopper l5 constructed of perforated steel or non-corrosive metal, the perforations enabling the escape of the liquid within which the lower end of the hopper is immersed. As will be seen, the side walls of the hopper are preferably of increasing height from the pivot end to the free end, thus providing ample capacity for bulk materials. Inasmuch as the hopper is permitted to tilt downward, the materials within the hopper will be.

fully immersed in the liquid within the tank.

The means for effecting oscillation of the hop--. per are best shown in Fig. 3 comprisingsuitable. stub shafts 16-41 mounted on the sides nearthe middel of the hopper, the shafts having a. rotatable connection with connecting rods |8-I9 respectively connected to cranks 202l.. The cranks are connected to each other through the tank by means of the shaft 22 which extends transversely through and across the tank at a median point in the length of the tank. Thus the hopper is lifted from both sides to avoid unequal strains.

The crank 20 is keyed to a shaft 23 which constitutes the drive shaft of the electric motor 24 through suitable reduction gears Within the motor housing. The motor is carried on a stand arranged alongside of the tank.

Also mountedon the shaft 23i'is a gear 25 which meshes-with a similar gear 26 carried on a shaft 21 which in turn carries the timing cams 28, best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. These are contained Within the box 29. A starting switch is indicated at 30.

It will be seen that for each cycle, involving 360 of movement of the crank 29, the hopper is raised to the position of Fig. 2 and then returned to the position of rest shown in Fig. 1. In the position of rest, the shaft 22 may act as a bottom limit stop for the hopper. However, in suchv position of rest the cranks 2E l-2l will be vertically in line with the connecting rod I 8l9 in position to carrythe load of the-hopper and contents without the necessity for a motor brake.

The timed motor operation is effected by reason of the timing switch shown in Figs. 5* and 6, and the wiring diagram illustrated in Fig. 7', which will now be described.

Current is supplied through the lines 3l--32- 33, a branch line 34 having a switch 35 therein. The line 36 extending from the switch serves to furnish current for the timing switches, one being provided for each unit, and one of which, for unit No. 1, is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In the switches controlling the number 1 motor for actuating the first hopper, the three switches are numbered 31--3839. The three switches for the second unit are numbered 40--4l42, while the two switches for the third motor unit are numbered 43 and 44. It will be understood that the switches for the second and third units are not illustrated, but are duplicates of that illustrated in Fig. 5.

Current from the line 36 passes through the branch 45 through the switch 42, which is assumed to be closed, thence through line 46 to switch 38, which is likewise assumed to be closed, thence through line 41 to the magnetic switch 48, thence through line 49 to the line wire 32. The energizing of the magnetic switch serves to close the three pole switch 50 and to connect the line wires to the three-phase motor of the No. 1 unit.

If the position of the timing switch is such that switch 38 is not closed at the start of operations, the pressure switch may be momentarily depressed to complete the described circuit. As the motor starts and the hop-per is raised, the timing-switch-cams are rotated through the shaft 21 and before the cycle of the number 1 unit is completed, the cam will close switch 31 whereby current will flow from the line 32 through branch 52, magnetic switch 53, wire 54 to branch wire 55, thence through the switch 31, wire 56, branch 5'! then through closed switch 39 and wire 58 to switch 44, which is likewise closed, and back through wire 59 to wire 36. If the position of unit No. 3 is such that switch 44 has not been closed, then unit No. 2 will not start.

At a point just prior to the completion of the cycle of unit No. 2, current from line 32 passes through branch wire 60 to the magnetic switch 6|, then through wire 62 to a branch 63, thence through a switch 4|, branch 64, thence through wire 45 to wire 36. When, however, the motor of unit 3 has been started, switch 43 will be closed as switch 4| is opened, and switch 42 closed when current will then flow from wire 62 through switch 43, then by wire 65 through switch 42 and out through wire 45 to wire 36.

Inasmuch as the cams 28 are adjustable on the shaft through the medium of the adjusting nut 28a, the timing may be changed as required. For example, No. 1 hopper may be again actuated before No. 3 has completed its cycle.

Inthe modified form shown, in'Fig. 8 the tanks remain the same, this being likewise true of the hoppers.

In the construction of Fig. 8 the tanks, hoppers and operating means are each a duplicate of the other. In such construction the tank Ill) supports on its side the electric motor the shaft of which extends into a reduction gear box 2. A pinion I I3 outside of the gear box engages a gear H4, a pinion H5 at the center of which cooperates with a quadrant H6, keyed to a shaft which is in turn keyed to the bracket 8 joined to the forward end of the hopper I I9.

By means of a gear I20 engaging the gear 4 and the shaft |2|, a limit switch, not shown, may be operated.

The shaft I! is keyed to the brackets I I2 fixed to one end of the hopper I23, whereby the hoppers may be lifted as indicated at the left hand end of Fig. 8.

In the operation of an arrangement such as shown in Fig. 8, it is necessary to employ reversing motors, and suitable switches and wiring will be provided therefor. Since the specific wiring forms no part of this invention, the diagram has not been illustrated.

It will be understood that while I have illustrated three units and the wiring diagram for said three units, a greater or less number may be provided by simple changes in the wiring.

I claim:

1. In plating apparatus, the combination of a tank, a perforated hopper pivoted for oscillation at an upper side edge of the tank, a shaft extending through the tank at a median point in the length of the tank, cranks connected to the ends of the shaft outside of the tank and connecting rods from the hopper to the cranks, a stand alongside of the tank, and a motor mounted on the stand for operating said cranks.

2. In plating apparatus, the combination of a tank, a perforated hopper pivoted for oscillation at an upper side edge of the tank, a shaft extending through the tank at a median point in the length of the tank, cranks connected to the ends of the shaft outside of the tank and connecting rods from the hopper to the cranks, a stand alongside of the tank, a motor mounted on the stand, and reducing gears connecting the motor to one of said cranks.

3. In plating apparatus, the combination of a tank, a perforated hopper pivoted for oscillation at an upper side edge of the tank, a shaft" extending transversely through the tank at a point below the lower limit of movement of the hopper in the tank, cranks on the ends of the shaft outside of the tanks, connecting rods between the hopper and the cranks, and a unitary motor and speed reducing means mounted immediately adjacent to the side of the tank and connected to one of said cranks.

4. In plating apparatus, the combination of a tank, a perforated hopper pivoted for oscillation at an upper side edge of the tank, a shaft extending transversely through the tank at a point below the lower limit of movement of the hopper in the tank, cranks on the ends of the shaft outside of the tanks, connecting rods between the hopper and the cranks, a unitary motor and speed reducing means mounted immediately adjacent to the side of the tank and connected to one of said cranks, and timing means operated by said motor for correlating said hopper to other hoppers in a series.

JOSEPH A. CLAFFY. 

